280 Living
A1 August 2013 | August Volume 62013 | Issue• 12
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Hwy 280 at the Narrows Dr. Kristy Curl, Board Certified Dermatologist
Specializing in Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Dermatology Call 877-9773 or visit www.villagedermatology.net
learning curb
Cahaba Park Circle
McDonald’s
On your way to Birmingham from Chelsea, you decide to stop at Chick-fil-A. But the signal at Key Drive will no longer have a left-turn lane from U.S. 280 westbound. You keep driving.
Cahaba Park Circle West
Senior wide receiver Jourdan Walker (3) looks to boost Spain Park’s offense in the 2013 football season. In addition to the Jaguars, 280 Living previews the Eagles, Lions and Hornets inside this issue. Photo courtesy of Ted Melton.
At Cahaba Park Circle West in front of Target, you’ll make either a left turn at the light onto Cahaba River Road access road or a U-turn onto U.S. 280. Key Drive is now a right-in, right-out only road.
Special Section page B1
Valleydale Road
Key Drive Chick-fil-A
Work on U.S. 280 intersections in the Mountain Brook area is expected to wrap up Aug. 5, ALDOT officials said. Following that interim completion date, contractors have until Thanksgiving to finish the remaining intersections from The Summit to Double Oak Mountain.
Drivers on U.S. 280 toward Birmingham who wish to turn left onto Valleydale Road will no longer use the existing left turn lanes at the light. Instead, they’ll drive past the intersection.
To the left and below are three sections of the federal highway that will undergo significant change. For a list of all intersections included and changes planned, see inside.
All ages welcome
Aerial images courtesy of the Alabama Department of Transportation via dot.state.al.us
These drivers will then use new U-turn lanes at a new signal in front of Inverness Plaza, get on U.S. 280 eastbound briefly and make a right turn onto Valleydale.
Learn the mission behind the new Stonecreek Montessori School inside.
Walmart
Meadowlark Drive
Express Oil Change
Lloyd’s
School House page A21
Raceway
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Drivers will no longer be able to cross U.S. 280 at Meadowlark Drive. A concrete island will be installed to stop direct travel across the intersection and organize drivers turning left off U.S. 280.
In green are the six access points between Meadowlark and Raceway ALDOT intends to close.
Drivers brace for effects of ALDOT’s Intersection Improvement Plan By JEFF THOMPSON Intersection work has progressed rapidly down U.S. 280, and officials expect it won’t be long before the medians from I-459 to Doug Baker Boulevard are swollen with safety vests. For the daily driver, this means three months of dodging construction equipment likely followed by weeks of adjusting to
the highway’s new identity of “right-turn only.” Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills are currently going through the growing pains of the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) Intersection Improvement Plan. Contractors Dunn Construction and APACMidSouth were on target to complete work on intersections from Hollywood
Boulevard to Green Valley Road by the Aug. 5 interim completion date. “Delays and traffic have not been any worse that expected,” said Craig Fleming, president of Dunn Construction. “Most work done to this point has been from Red Mountain Expressway down to Birmingham Water Works. Now, we’re
See SAFETY| page A23